| June 26, 2016 |
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| Quote of the Week |
" If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears. "
— Cesare Pavese, Italian poet and novelist |
| Traveler Photo of the Week |
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| Thanks to 12-time traveler Maurice S. from Novi, MI, for sharing this wonderfully expressive photo of two gentlemen enjoying a smoke in Trinidad, Cuba. He snapped this portrait during Cuba: A Bridge Between Cultures. |
This Week's Inside Scoop: 6.26.16
A message from Harriet Lewis, Vice Chairman of Overseas Adventure Travel, Grand Circle Travel, and Grand Circle Cruise Line |
For those of us of (ahem) a certain age, travel becomes continued education. No matter how experienced we are in life, our minds have room to expand and grow. If you're new to this newsletter, we created The Inside Scoop as a way to celebrate the ways travel changes us.
Travel, for us, is transformative—but for young people it's downright formative. In July, I'll be traveling to Kenya with a group of ten recent high school graduates as part of a leadership program called the Next Generation Leaders. It's an annual journey, and I always look forward to watching young minds react and adapt to unfamiliar cultural experiences. These kids will head off to college with new wisdom that they'll carry throughout their lives.
In this week's Traveler Insights, I was so happy to read a story about a cultural exchange that impacted not only a young woman from France, but also the "parents"—travelers Joel and Vi H.—who hosted her in their home for a summer in 1986.
We also share a story from Dave P., a 25-time traveler who proves that no matter how many journeys we take, there is still more to learn and discover—especially when you travel to India.
Whether you're young or young at heart, enough lessons await in the world to continue our education forever. Is there a place that has taught you something about yourself? Tell me your story at harriet@gct.com.
P.S. I'm excited to share an exceptionally buzzworthy announcement this week: You'll now have the opportunity to explore Cuba by small ship aboard our 89-passenger M/V Clio. Read on for more details in The Buzz! |
Question of the Month
Share your answer, and you might be featured in next month's Inside Scoop |
Your answers to June's question were a photographer's dream:
| What is the most beautiful place you've ever been—and why? | |
We received so many great answers—both from Grand Circle and O.A.T. travelers and others who we hope will soon join us—it was difficult to narrow down our favorites. But we think you'll find inspiration in this stunning collection of destinations.
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The Buzz
What we're hearing around the water cooler |
NEW for 2017: Explore Cuba by small ship
On a new Small Ship Cruise Tour, Cuban Cultural Treasures: Coast to Coast, explore the Cuban coastline aboard the 89-passenger M/V Clio, stepping ashore in small groups of 25 travelers for authentic People-to-People experiences. By ship, explore remote ports, coastal cities, and fishing villages; and spend two nights on land to discover Havana, Cuba's vibrant capital. |
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NEW: Share your travel moments
We love sharing your stories and photos here in The Inside Scoop. Now, we've made it easier than ever to share your travel memories right on our website. We invite you to upload your photos and videos, see what your fellow travelers have been posting, and hear a message from David Conover about the power of visual storytelling. |
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Foundation update: We're building a school
Since Grand Circle Foundation began a partnership with Kenya's Amboseli Primary School in 2011, both the school and its students have flourished: Out of 90 schools in the region, Amboseli's ranking has improved from #67 to #3. With the nearest secondary school 12 miles away, however, education stops short for many students. Together with the support of our travelers, we've done so much for this school, and continued education is the next step. We're hoping you'll help. We'll match all donations up to $30,000. |
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Not your neighbor's Canada Day
What's red and white and celebrated all over? Canada Day! Canada Day means different things to different people, from Quebec separatists to Vancouver fishermen, and how each region marks the day reflects the values of local life. |
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Did You Know…
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| Where in the world? |
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| Where can you find a valley filled with thousands of greenhouses in a city with a thousand nicknames? |
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| Double blind |
| You've been handed a street address and you think you're seeing double: the street has two names and the cross street has two numbers while the house itself has no number at all. Where are you? |
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What We're Watching
We've partnered with independent filmmakers around the world to bring you unique films that connect you with people, lifestyles, and cultures |
Mystical Island of Ireland
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Take in the drama of Ireland's cliffs, coastline, and rolling green hills in a film that has drama of its own. Beautiful cinematography and a soaring score bring this stunning landscape to life.
Watch film »  |
Grannies on Safari: Exotic Zanzibar
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Join the Grannies as they search for spices and try their hands at basket weaving on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar. They even meet a fellow granny who preserves local traditions in song.
Watch film » |
Morocco's "Red City"
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See how old blends with new in Marrakesh, where snake charmers play their tantalizing tunes in the main square and traditional herbalists concoct potions to cure whatever ails you.
Watch film » |
Traveler Insights
Let your fellow travelers inspire you with advice and recollections |
Opening my eyes to India
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| Traveler Dave P.'s impressions of India speak volumes: after taking 25 trips with us, he returned to report that this was "a discovery and learning trip unlike any I have seen." He wrote about his experience for his local paper, and now shares his story with Inside Scoop readers. |
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| Thanks to: Dave P., 25-time traveler & 4-time Vacation Ambassador from Marco Island, FL • Heart of India |
A summer to remember
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| In 1986, Joel and Vi H. hosted a French exchange student named Armelle at their home in New Jersey. They never forgot that summer, or Armelle—so when they traveled to France in 2013, they were determined to track her down. |
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| Thanks to: Joel & Vi H., 9-time travelers from West Deptford, NJ • Cruising Burgundy & Provence to the Cote d'Azur |
5 Questions With… Vacation Ambassadors Judy & Hal Y.
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Judy and Hal Y. of Danville, CA, have taken 11 trips with us—and referred 19 new travelers along the way. When we asked Judy five questions, she shared this philosophy: "There's no such thing as a bad trip or a bad learning." Her passion for embracing the unexpected is infectious.
| 1. | What was your favorite trip and why?
It's like picking a favorite kid—they're all different. There are good parts and parts you didn't expect to happen, and those are the stories you end up telling. There's no such thing as a bad trip or a bad learning. It's all about food and the sights, the things you didn't know how to pronounce before, and now those things are part of your everyday vocabulary. | | 2. | What's your favorite/most successful way to refer a friend?
That's easy for us! We really just talk about our trips. I am sold on O.A.T., and I love that there are no Single Supplements. I tell my single women friends that there is a way for them to travel solo. The selling points are those stop the bus moments, the spontaneous things you can do when there's a small group of you. You walk through markets and if you don't know what something is or what it tastes like, the Trip Leader stops and buys one to let you try it. Having someone there who is able to customize the trip as you go and express interest in things makes all the difference. We don't work at it or ever try to sell the trips. We encourage others because O.A.T. goes to off the beaten track to places you don't know how to navigate on your own. With O.A.T., everything is planned for you, and that's what we tell people. | | 3. | Do you have a trip coming up? If not, where would you like to go next?
We do—we're taking Northern Greece, Albania & Macedonia the first two weeks of September. I don't really do too much research on a place before we go, though. I think a destination is more interesting after the trip because I will know so much more about it. | | 4. | Do you have any tips or suggestions for your fellow travelers?
Go a day early so you don't have to worry about missing connections. Stay at the same hotel as O.A.T. You'll get over jetlag so you can jump right in on the tour. I sometimes talk to our Trip Leader beforehand and get recommendations for things to do on my first day there. | | 5. | Have you had any pleasant surprises during your trips?
I've taken Heart of India and Soul of India: The Colorful South and they both gave me different perspectives of the country. Varanasi was so magical. Every trip gives me something pleasant to bring back. It's the people and the connections you make. The other travelers on the tour are just like us—they share a lot of good information and sense of camaraderie. | |
| Ambassador advice |
If you have friends who are intrigued by river cruising but haven't tried it yet, Romance of the Rhine & Mosel epitomizes this relaxing style of travel: how else can you visit five countries—Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland—while unpacking your suitcase only once?
View videos, and share with a friend » |
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